The battle to move Lucy to an elephant sanctuary in California just got a $100,000 boost from ex-Oiler and animal lover Georges Laraque.

"I want to meet with Mayor (Stephen) Mandel when I come down to Edmonton next week and really talk about what Lucy is going through. This is unethical," said Laraque, in an emotional conversation with the Edmonton Sun.

"This is making Edmonton look really, really bad and I love this city."

In a letter sent to Mandel on Wednesday, Laraque bluntly called the Valley Zoo's star attraction "its suffering solitary animal" and went on to offer the City of Edmonton money to develop other projects.

"I would like to offer $100,000 toward any one of the several city projects - such as the new downtown arena or upgrades to the Edmonton Indy racetrack - that need funding," Laraque writes.

"Zoos can't begin to fulfil the social and physical needs of these highly intelligent animals."

The 35-year-old Asian elephant arrived at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in 1977 when she was two years old. She has had the same zookeepers for over 20 years.

"Lucy has an obstruction in her upper respiratory tract," Ness explained.

"This leads to a situation where she has to breathe through her mouth. They normally breathe through their trunks. This has caused Lucy to be in respiratory distress for the past six years now."

Ness said Lucy also doesn't travel well - based on her past breeding excursions to the Calgary Zoo, where her stomach ached for up to five days.

In August of 2010, the Court of Queen's Bench ruled in favour of the City of Edmonton when legal action was brought on by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Zoocheck and Sherwood Park animal rights activist Tove Reece.

mariam.bocari@sunmedia.ca

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Georges Laraque's letter to Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel:

Dear Mayor Mandel:

I'm writing with a proposal that could benefit the great city of Edmonton and also end one of its recent battles. Edmonton's Valley Zoo has ignored pleas to retire Lucy-its suffering solitary elephant-to a sanctuary in a warmer climate, where she would be in the company of other elephants and be given some relief from her arthritis and other ailments. In exchange for Lucy's immediate release, I would like to offer $100,000 toward any one of the several city projects-such as the new downtown arena or upgrades to the Edmonton Indy racetrack-that need funding.

Hopefully, all the plans to revitalize downtown Edmonton will draw even more entertainment events to the area. However, the zoo's expensive, out-of-date elephant exhibit only stands in the way of progress. Because zoos can't begin to fulfill the social and physical needs of these highly intelligent animals, even zoos in far warmer areas have started to phase out their elephant exhibits. Lucy's serious health problems and the signs of mental distress that she has long exhibited are reasons enough to send her to a sanctuary in a warmer climate, but I hope that my proposal creates even more incentive. Not only would letting Lucy go generate positive publicity, it would also end a costly and embarrassing lawsuit and help the city fund a worthwhile project.